If you’ve followed me on Instagram for a while you’ll know, Perth Upmarket is my favourite market event! I’ve been going for years, and love sharing my market finds and fun experiences… I love how different it is to so many other markets out there, with a unique offering that in my opinion is truly unmatched. To have a stall at Perth Upmarket, a brand’s products must be made or designed in WA, so you get a brilliant selection of local goodies to browse!
Their next event is this weekend (Sunday the 15th September 2024) from 10am to 4pm at the University of Western Australia (Winthrop Hall), so ahead of the big day I thought I’d put together a bumper post of ten of my top picks for stalls to visit, as well as my tips for making the most of your market day!
What To Bring:
- Plenty of bag space: Reusable totes, a decent backpack, a nifty wheelie bag… However you carry, you’ll want room to stash your goodies comfortably because trust me, you’ll start to get quite a stash going!
- A hat: The spring weather is starting to warm up, and the sun is going to be gloriously shining this weekend – Hooray, perfect market weather! Having come home with a slightly pink neck/ears at markets prior, I recommend popping a hat on your head for browsing the outdoor stalls (as an added bonus, it’s a cute spring fashion moment too!).
- Comfy shoes: You’ll rack up some serious steps browsing an incredible 200+ stalls, so comfy footwear is a must.
- Friends and family: This day out is the kind of fun that is best shared – Get your gang together, and get ready to make some magical memories!
Making The Most Of The Day:
- Arrive early: The event kicks off at 10am, and if you can make it there for then do it! The stalls will be freshly opened, and you can get first dibs on having a browse through everything they have on offer by being an early bird.
- Keep your energy up: With all of the food and drink vendors on site, you’re spoiled for choice. Make the most of it and try some different tasty treats throughout the day… With all those steps you’ll need more calories for energy, so it’s a great excuse to snack a little extra (that’s what I tell myself at least 😉 )!
- Be a social butterfly: Social media is such a wonderful thing for small businesses… Make sure you follow your favourite vendors on socials when you discover them throughout the day, so you can keep up with them after the market! And while you’re at it, follow @perthupmarket too, so you’ll be in the loop for their future events.
- Take your time: This is one market event you won’t want to rush. There’s so much to see that details are easily missed if you try and speed run your market browsing! I actually recommend passing by the same areas again, chances are you might spot something lovely that you didn’t catch on your first walk by. Perth Upmarket only runs quarterly, so don’t rush your day as you’ll have to wait a few months for the chance to visit again!
My Top Stall Picks
Perth Upmarket is packed with the best of the best, so honestly all the stalls are wonderful. But of course, everyone has their favourites they gravitate towards most… Here are ten of my must-visits who will be attending this Sunday’s market, make sure to check them out!
Beach Street
This Perth clothing label design easy, breezy, coastal-inspired womenswear. With a focus on unique and sustainable fabrics and processes, you can look good AND feel great when choosing to drape yourself in their gorgeous garments! I own a few pieces of theirs (perhaps you’ve seen them pop up on my Instagram!) and absolutely love them.
PUFFI
These guys are usually my first stop when I arrive at Upmarket… They quite often sell out early as their range of freeze dried lollies are just THAT good! So take it from me, you’ll want to make a beeline to their stall so you get your pick of the day’s bunch. My favourites? The sour geckos and saltwater taffy – Those flavours combined with the fluffy, delicious crunch of freeze drying are off-the-charts delicious!
Victoria Alexion
A first-timer at Perth Upmarket, this young Perth womenswear label is one I’m very keen to check out! The ultra-feminine silhouettes and pretty pastel hues showcased on their Instagram have me very intrigued indeed… And with this designer’s background in bridal wear, you know the manufacturing quality is going to be wonderful!
Kooked Ceramics
Cute, quirky, and a whole lot of fun… I first spotted these guys at the previous Perth Upmarket event, and am excited to see what they have on offer this time around! With designs including checkerboard print, adorable little frogs, cute fruit patterns, and ditsy florals, their handmade goodies are bursting with colour and cheer!
Sweet O’Clock
A patissier with 20+ years of experience honing their craft… I’ve not sampled their goodies before, but my mouth is already watering looking at photos of their French creations! I’m definitely popping these guys down for a morning snack stop, I expect they will be in high demand and I definitely don’t want to miss out on trying their desserts.
Hartsi
Their jewellery made from pressed botanicals in resin is absolutely beautiful! If real flowers aren’t your thing, these would make an absolutely brilliant present for the jewellery-wearing gardener in your life. (Dear husband, if you’re reading this – It’s me, I’m the jewellery-wearing gardener!)
Jollie Macarons
If you love macarons, this stall is a must-visit – They make the best macarons I’ve ever had! I always look forward to seeing which delightful flavours await at each market. They take ‘made from scratch’ extremely literally, and it’s what makes their macarons so special… Their house-made jams and curds make for a total taste experience in each bite! (Get in early, as they do sell out!)
Loop LAB
Tufted textural goodness, crafted by hand to jazz up your home – What’s not to love! I met maker Olga at the last Perth Upmarket event, and I can’t wait to check out her newest batch of creations this time around! With designs in colourful and neutral colour palettes, there’s something for everyone.
Carter Road Farm
I’m so looking forward to browsing their gorgeous homewares with colourful, country flair! I particularly love their range of cushions (Frills? Stripes? Gingham? All of the good things!), and am eager for an in-person squiz at their new range of napkins.
Shellery
A new favourite local biz who I first stumbled across at the last Perth Upmarket, they’re back again this time around and I’m keen to visit them once more! Their home decor pieces crafted using real shells are absolutely gorgeous, and such a unique find.